Memorial remembers ‘remarkable life’ of Katcho Achadjian, former supervisor, assemblyman
Eighteen bells sounded in downtown San Luis Obispo on Thursday morning — tolling for a life of public service cut short.
As the first nine rang out at 9:25 a.m., a somber mass of hundreds rose from the simple wooden pews of Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa as the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office Color Guard marched up the aisle.
Many of the attendees clutched flyers with a familiar mustachioed face beaming from the front, the words “In loving memory: Khatchik ‘Katcho’ Achadjian” emblazoned across them.
Achadjian, a former San Luis Obispo County supervisor and California State Assembly member, died March 5 at the age of 68 from health complications.
On Thursday, the evidence of Achadjian’s long career in public service was all around. Inside the memorial stood current and former government officials — both state and local — as well as dozens of assembled friends and colleagues.
As the smell of incense wafted throughout the crowd, archbishops with the Armenian Apostolic Church led the memorial to remember Achadjian, who immigrated to San Luis Obispo from Lebanon as a teenager in 1971 and rose up to prominence in the South County community as first a businessman and then a public servant.
“My father led a remarkable life,” his son, Hratch Achadjian, said during the service. “Seeing all of you here today, more than ever, I am humbled. I am humbled by your welcoming embrace of him 50 years ago.”
Through tears, and some laughter, Hratch and his sister, Nyri Achadjian, recalled their father and his dedication to his community, emphasizing that above all, Achadjian believed in giving.
“Share the stories of Katcho,” Hratch advised the fellow mourners. “The selfless young immigrant who washed your windows and pumped your gas; who helped build the hospital and a bank; twice governor-appointed, thrice elected, and how he impacted you. Share them not just with me, but with your family and friends, your neighbors, our community. Keep talking about him.”
Just after 10:30 a.m., nine bells sounded across Achadjian’s beloved San Luis Obispo once again, each toll saying goodbye to a local patriot, businessman, supervisor, assemblyman, brother, uncle, father and husband — Katcho Achadjian.
This story was originally published March 12, 2020 at 2:16 PM.
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